A "harmony rally" was held in Morelganj, Bagerhat, on Wednesday morning under the theme "Building a Bangladesh of peace and harmony not conflict" aiming to promote tolerance and inter-religious harmony.
Organised by the Morelganj Peace Facilitator Group (PFG), the event took place at the Muktijoddha Complex Bhaban meeting room. It was held under The Hunger Project Bangladesh's "Multi-Stakeholder Initiative for Peace and Stability" (MIPS) project, with financial support from FCDO.
Morelganj PFG Coordinator Md. Faruk Hossain Samad chaired the rally, while PFG Ambassador and freedom fighter Gias Uddin Talukder moderated. Speakers included freedom fighters Ruhul Amin Fakir and M. K. Aziz, principal Nihar Halder, BNP leaders SM Shahin Ahmed and Sohel Raihan, Mohila Dal leaders Shahin Ferdousi Happy and Nasrin Nahar Shilpi, Jatiya Party's Masud Reza, JSD's Abdul Latif Khan, Communist Party's Mostafizur Rahman Lucky, Imam Moniruzzaman Howlader, priest Shankar Chakraborty, journalist Shefali Akhter Rakhi and representatives from various political, religious, social and professional organisations.
Chairing the event, Faruk Hossain Samad urged everyone to play a responsible role in maintaining peace and stability, saying mutual respect and cooperation can build harmony despite differences in religion, ideology or politics.
Speakers agreed such initiatives strengthen mutual respect and brotherhood adding that religious or political differences should not divide people. Instead, understanding and compassion can help build a peaceful also violence-free Bangladesh.
The rally ended with participants pledging to build a "Morelganj of Harmony," regardless of religion, caste or political affiliation. MIPS Project Field Coordinator Md. Rezbiul Kabir supervised the programme.
